Environmental monitoring systems delayed in Formosa incident-impacted provinces

December 16, 2019 - 16:56

Four central coastal provinces of Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên Huế have asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to postpone the construction of marine environmental monitoring and warning systems by 2021 due to financial shortage.

Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Steel Plant discharged untreated wastewater, causing the marine life disaster in central Việt Nam in 2016. Four years after the incident, a project of building marine environmental monitoring and warning systems is still delayed. — Photo tuoitre.vn

HÀ TĨNH — Four central coastal provinces of Hà Tĩnh, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên Huế have asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to postpone the construction of marine environmental monitoring and warning systems by 2021, citing a lack of budget.

Following the marine life disaster caused by Hưng Nghiệp Formosa Hà Tĩnh Steel Plant which led to massive fish death and severe water pollution in the four central provinces back in April 2016, the Government in September 2017 approved a project that would see the construction of marine environmental monitoring systems during 2017 to 2019, with a total investment of VNĐ200 billion (US$8.6 million) allocated from Formosa’s $500 million compensation package.

However, all four provinces have not completed the project due to slow capital reimbursement from the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Võ Tuấn Nhân, deputy minister of environment, told Tuổi trẻ (Youth) newspaper that the delay was also due to behind-schedule land clearance and technical changes.

According to the initial plan, the project comprises five components including the construction of marine environmental monitoring and warning systems in four impacted provinces and six air quality tracking stations. — VNS

Rare green sea turtle released in Quảng Trị

Environment

Hundreds of damaged irrigation reservoirs need repairing

Environment

IUCN-MARD workshop tackles marine environmental issues

Environment

A new plant species discovered in central Việt Nam

Environment

National Environmental Protection Plan ensures high quality living environment

Environment

Việt Nam proactively prepares for EUDR despite EU postponement

More on this story

Environment

Mekong Delta’s main flower, ornamental plant growing district affected by saltwater in rivers

The unusually early saltwater intrusion this year is threatening the farming of flowers and ornamental plants in Bến Tre Province’s Chợ Lách District, the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta’s largest producer of flowers and ornamental plants.

Environment

Bắc Ninh investigates illegal dumping of toxic waste into Cầu River

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment in northern Bắc Ninh Province has asked all relevant authorities to investigate the illegal dumping of toxic waste by a local environment company into the province’s Cầu River.

Environment

ASEAN to take immediate steps to combat drought in SE Asia

ASEAN-member countries have vowed to take immediate action to resolve problems caused by worsening drought in Southeast Asia, especially in Việt Nam’s Mekong Delta region, which is especially susceptible to global warming.

Environment

Changing behaviour towards nature to keep biodiversity

Professor Trương Quang Học from Việt Nam National University’s Centre for Natural Resources and Environment Studies spoke with Nhân Dân Cuối Tuần (the People Weekend Edition) newspaper about the impacts that Việt Nam will possibly have in case of biodiversity decline and the importance of changing behaviour towards nature.

Environment

Hà Nội adopts plan to cut emissions

Hà Nội's Department of Natural Resources and Environment has outlined a plan to reduce air pollution in 2020.

Environment

Việt Nam needs solutions for sustainable development of rivers

A rapid increase in population and rapid socio-economic development were resulting in uncontrolled and unsustainable tapping of rivers' potential.

Environment

Diplomatic efforts needed to prevent worst impacts of upstream Mekong dams

Provincial authorities in the Mekong Delta have asked Vietnamese officials to address the inter-Governmental Mekong River Commission and step up diplomatic efforts to deal with countries upstream that are threatening the flow of the giant water resource.